Shoe tree straightener for shoes



June 8, 1943 l R. H. SCHIEFERSTEIN 2,442,826

SHOE TREE STRAIGHTENER FOR SHOES Filed June ll, 1945 A T TQQ/vf 1/ Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE SHOE TREE STRAIGHTENER FOR SHOES Roy H. Sehieferstein, San Diego, Calif.

Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,729

My invention relates to a shoe tree for facilitating the positioning of shoes on a persons feet and for maintaining the soles of such shoes straight and in proper shape when not in use, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a shoe tree of this class having a slidably adjustable clip member mounted on the shoe horn shaped frame member arranged to t various sizes and shapes -of shoes as desired;

Second, to provide a shoe tree of this class which may be used as a shoe horn only by simply shifting the clip member away from the heel engaging end of the shoe horn shaped frame member;

Third, to provide a shoe tree of this class which is very rigid due to its curved cross sectional shape;

Fourth, to provide a shoe tree of this class in which the handle portion of the shoe horn shaped frame member cooperates with the slidable clip member for engaging the sole of a shoe for maintaining the same in straight normal position when not in use;

Fifth, to provide a shoe tree of this class which is very easy to apply to the soles of shoes when used as a shoe tree;

Sixth, to provide a shoe tree of this class having a shoe horn shaped frame member which is substantially conventional in form and comfortable when using the same as a shoe horn; and

Seventh, to provide a shoe tree of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, ecient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is an edge elevational view of my shoe tree; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken from the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my shoe tree taken on a plane ninety degrees from that as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several Views of the drawings:

The frame member I and the clip member 2 4 Claims. (Cl. 12-129.1)

2 constitute the principal parts and portions of my combined shoe horn and shoe tree.

The :frame member I is provided with a substantially U-shaped handle portion Ia, the end of which is molded backwardly in spacedrelation to the main body Ic of the frame member I, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The spaced relation of the end Ib from the main body I c of the frame member I permits the insertion of the toe end of a shoe sole therebetween. The cross sectional shape of the frame member I is curved as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and has substantially the same appearance as a conventional shoe horn.

Slidably connected with the frame member I is the clip member 2 which is provided with a loop shaped portion 2a fitted over the frame member l and curved in cross section, as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, forming a slidable bearing relationship with said frame member I. The opposite ends of this clip member 2 are provided with upwardly and inwardly extending hook portions 2b, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be noted, however, that the normal disposition of these clip portions 2b may be in any position as connected to a shoe sole.

The spoon portion Id of the frame member I is particularly adapted for use in facilitating the insertion of a persons foot into a shoe and when so used the clip member 2 is moved backwardly toward the handle portion la of the shoe horn shaped frame member I simply by sliding the same thereon.

The clip member 2 at its loop portion 2a bears against the opposite edges Ie of the frame member I in the position as shown in the drawing. Thus the clip member 2 is prevented from sliding olf the spoon end Id of theframe member I whereby said clip 2 is maintained in connection with the frame member l at all times.

The operation of my combined shoe horn and shoe tree is substantially as follows: When used as a shoe tree the end portion Ib of the handle portion la of the frame member I engages the upper side of a shoe sole at the toe end thereof. The clip member 2 is forced backwardly from the end portion Ib into engagement with the diverging edges of the shoe sole and the clip portions 2b engage the upper side thereof maintaining the shoe sole in straight position. It is obvious that when the toe end of the shoe sole is under the end portion Ib of the shoe horn shaped frame member I that the clip member 2 may be forced into positive engagement with the shoe sole at opposite side edges thereof by simply sliding the clip member 2 longitudinally of the shoe horn shaped frame member l.

When it is desired to use my combined shoe horn and shoe tree as a shoe horn for the insertion of a persons foot into a shoe, the clip member 2 is forced backwardly toward the handle portion la of the shoe horn shaped' frame member l. Then the spoon portion Id is inserted in the shoe and operated in the conventional manner.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shoe tree of the class described, the combination of a shoe horn shaped frame member curved in cross section and provided with a folded end portion having the end thereof arranged in spaced relation to the main body of the shoe horn shaped frame member and a clip slidably mounted on said shoe horn shaped frame member. having substantially UV-shaped clip portions extending in spaced relation to each other at opposite edges of said shoe horn shaped frame member. Y

2. In a shoe tree of the class described, the combination of a frame member curved in cross section and provided With a folded end portion having the end thereof arranged in spaced relation to the main body of the frame member, l,a clip slidably mounted on said frame member having substantially U-shaped clip portions extending in spaced relation to each other at opposite edges of said frame member, said shoe horn member provided with diverging edges extending toward one said frame member, and a clip member slidably mounted on said frame member and having outwardly extending U-shaped clip portions arranged in spaced relation to each other and extending from opposite edges of said frame member.

, 4. In a shoe .tree of the class described, the combination of a shoe horn shaped frame member having diverging edge portions and a curved in cross section spoon portion at one end, the opposite end of said shoe horn shaped frame member having a folded U-shaped loop portion, the end of said folded U-shaped loop portion arranged in spaced relation to the main body of said shoe horn shaped frame member, and a clip member slidably mounted on said shoe horn shaped frame member and h a v i n g outwardly extending U-shaped clip portions arranged in spaced relation to each other and extending from opposite edges of said shoe horn shaped frame member.

ROY H. SCHIEFERSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,818,490 Macgillivay Aug. 11, 1931 1,848,552 Sayles Mar. 8, 1932 2,383,150 Nevin Aug. 21, 1945 

